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1998 v70 xc - Automatic trans - button on shifter sticking

Help, Advice and DIY Tutorials on Volvo's P80 platform cars -- Volvo's 1990s "bread and butter" cars -- powered by the ubiquitous and durable Volvo inline 5-cylinder engine.

1992 - 1997 850, including 850 R, 850 T-5R, 850 T-5, 850 GLT
1997 - 2000 S70, S70 AWD
1997 - 2000 V70, V70 AWD
1997 - 2000 V70-XC
1997 - 2004 C70

This topic is in the MVS Volvo Repair Database » Project: Sticky Automatic Shifter? Here's Your Cheap Fix.
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aloggia
Posts: 12
Joined: 4 December 2006
Year and Model:
Location: Virginia

Volvo Repair Database 1998 v70 xc - Automatic trans - button on shifter sticking

Post by aloggia »

Hello. I've got a 1998 v70 xc - Automatic transmission. The button on the gear shifter tends to stick in warm weather so when I put the car in Park, I find myself prying it out with my fingers. It always comes out but it's an annoyance. I imagine something needs to get lubricated and/or cleaned. I had a Chilton's type manual for the car but I can't for the life of me find it. It was actually for the 850 but effectively it was the same thing. I've looked around here and can not find it.

Could someone either:
1. Point me in the direction of this?
2. Or, give me some advice on how to fix this? Do I have to take the shifter handle off?

Thanks.

jblackburn
MVS Moderator
Posts: 14043
Joined: 8 June 2008
Year and Model: 1998 S70 T5
Location: Alexandria, VA
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Post by jblackburn »

Mine does it too. I took a small flathead screwdriver and scraped out the crud around the edges of the plastic, and then take a can of white lithium grease or silicone lubricant with the little red straw on the end and spray around the edges of the button, then work it in & out a couple times.

That worked for mine anyway, and it's an easy thing to try before disassembling the whole shifter. :)
'98 S70 T5
2016 Chevy Cruze Premier


A learning experience is one of those things that says, "You know that thing you just did? Don't do that."

mercuic: Long live the tractor motor!

nwhitney
Posts: 121
Joined: 15 April 2010
Year and Model: V70XC 2000
Location: Portland, OR

Post by nwhitney »

You can easily replace the button yourself. IPD has a new button for $38, here's the link http://www.ipdusa.com/Volvo-S70V70-1998 ... -370-4601/
It should be any easy fix. I have to replace mine (exact same one as yours) and the Volvo shop by me wants $138. Double check with IPD on the correct gear knob button.

nwhitney
Posts: 121
Joined: 15 April 2010
Year and Model: V70XC 2000
Location: Portland, OR

Post by nwhitney »

Or clean it out as jablackburn suggest. Might fix your problem and save you $38.

aloggia
Posts: 12
Joined: 4 December 2006
Year and Model:
Location: Virginia

Post by aloggia »

Wow, that worked suprisingly well. Thanks. Sometimes the best solution is not the most complex one.

jblackburn
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Post by jblackburn »

I like easy/cheap fixes! Glad it worked for you.
'98 S70 T5
2016 Chevy Cruze Premier


A learning experience is one of those things that says, "You know that thing you just did? Don't do that."

mercuic: Long live the tractor motor!

VCA
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Joined: 21 February 2008
Year and Model: 2008 S80 T6 AWD
Location: Orlando, FL
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Post by VCA »

jablackburn wrote:Mine does it too. I took a small flathead screwdriver and scraped out the crud around the edges of the plastic, and then take a can of white lithium grease or silicone lubricant with the little red straw on the end and spray around the edges of the button, then work it in & out a couple times.

That worked for mine anyway, and it's an easy thing to try before disassembling the whole shifter. :)
You mean I didn't have to go and buy a new shifter knob and gaither? :mrgreen: Aw maaannnn...
2008 S80 T6 AWD
1999 S70 GLT

Responsible for the care of a '92 960 and an '07 S60R

1911colt
Posts: 33
Joined: 22 May 2010
Year and Model: V70 XC 2000
Location: USA

Post by 1911colt »

jablackburn wrote:I like easy/cheap fixes! Glad it worked for you.
You seem to know an awful lot about these vehicles, I'm new to them. I've always wanted one but just could not swing it, I'm a family man that has been wrenching for going on 50 years. I'm considered a fine mechanic, just got my first volvo 2000 V70XC, I need to make this baby last for a long time, so I went and bought the VADIS disks. I noticed some people out there are running it on win xp home, win xp pro, vista, and win 7. I just built a new pc and am running win 7 home, do you know how to install Vadis in a win 7 or win xp home operating sys?.....any help will be much apreciated. I'm learning a lot from your postings, I'm hopin you can send me in the right direction with this. Thanks for your time and knowledge on this site.
PETE

Ozark Lee
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Post by Ozark Lee »

On most of the VADIS DVDs that are floating around you need to reset your system clock to June 2004 to get it to install. Anything after XP SP2 you need to register a .dll file - this was from the setup instructions that came with my DVD:

Somehow WindowsXP SP2 disables these DLLs from computer
and only thing to do to fix the problem is:
1) Open command prompt
2) Go to C:\Windows\System32 directory
3) Run command: regsvr32 scrrun.dll
4) Popup message should say that registering was completed successfully

Virus scan the DVD - it will take forever - but mine had a trojan on it. I copied it to a drive under linux, deleted the infected file, and re-burned the DVD. It seems to run just fine.

...Lee
'94 850 N/A 5 speed
'96 Platinum Edition Turbo
Previous:
1999 V70XC - Nautic Blue - Totaled while parked.
1999 V70XC - RIP - Wrecked Parts Car.
1998 S70 T5
1996 850 N/A
1989 740 GLT
1986 740 GLT
1972 142 Grand Luxe

anjill182
Posts: 134
Joined: 25 January 2011
Year and Model: 98 XC,98 AWD, 95 T5R
Location: Ladysmith, Virginia
Been thanked: 1 time

Post by anjill182 »

Broken Button
Broken Button
I've had my 1998 V70 XC for a little over a year now and this site has been great. Time for me to give a little back. I had the sticky shifter problem , broken button, and I just could not see spending $38 on a replacement button. Off to the local pick and pull. Seems like all, or most, of the buttons on the 70 series cars were also broken. Guess what? The buttons on the 850's and some other vehicles are the same. The only difference is the plastic is black. The black buttons don't seem to be as prone to breaking. If you don't mind using a black button instead of a gray one (you can't really see it anyway), get a black one and replace your broken gray one. Remove the shifter knob so you can see what's going on.

1. Gently pry the top of the button out
CIMG2892.JPG
2. Pull the button straight up and out.
CIMG2893.JPG
3. On the new button, line up the pin on the edge of the plastic as shown.
CIMG2903.JPG
4. Insert the button with the pin in the top slot and snap the bottom in.
CIMG2895.JPG
5. Put the spring wire bacK in its place.
CIMG2909.JPG
6. Push the button back in.
CIMG2905.JPG
7. Looks good.

8.Re-install knob.

After you do one, others are easy. I replaced the on in my son's 2000 S40 in about 2 minutes. I hope this helps someone. Good luck!

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